Travel to Guinea-Bissau Creole phrasebook

For other Creole languages, see Creole.

The Creole of Guinea-Bissau (kriol, kiriol, kriolu and Portuguis varying with dialects) is the main language of Guinea-Bissau. It is based on Portuguese and local African languages. The grammar is very simple, but the lack of an official orthography makes written Creole complicated, as it is spelled differently in every text.

Pronouns edit

Personal pronouns when subject of a verb

I: N' / ngh
You (sing): Bu
He, she, it: I
We: Nô
You (pl): Bô
They: É

Personal pronouns used for emphasis.

I: Ami
You (sing.): Abô
He, she, it: El
We: Anós
You (pl.): Abós
They: Elis

Pronunciation guide edit

Vowels edit

Consonants edit

Common diphthongs edit

Phrase list edit

Basics edit

Hello.: Bon' dia, bo tarde, bo noite. ( )
Hello. (informal): Kuma? ( )
How are you?: Kuma k bu sta? ( ?)
How are you?: I kuma? ( ?)
Fine, thank you.: N'sta bom, obrigado. ( )
What is your name?: Kuma ki bu nome? ( ?)
My name is ______ .: Nha nome i ______ . ( _____ .)
Nice to meet you.: nkontenti nkunsiu
Please.: . tem pacença
Thank you.: Obrigado. ( )
You're welcome.: De nada. ( )
Yes.: Sim. ( )
No.: Não. ( )
Excuse me. (getting attention): . Colisença
Excuse me. (begging pardon): Diskulpa / purdan' ( )
I'm sorry.: Diskulpa / purdan' ( )
Goodbye: Tchau. ( )
Goodbye (informal): N'na bai. ( )
I can't speak creole [well].: N'ka obi kriol [dritu]. ( [ ])
Do you speak English?: Bu ta papia inglis? ( ?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: ké i tem kin' k ta papia inglis li? ( ?)
Help!: Djudan'! ( !)
Look out!: kuidadu! ( !)
Good morning.: Bon' dia. ( )
How have you slept?: Kuma k bu mansi?
I slept well, thank you.: N'mansi dritu / bem, obrigado.
Good afternoon.: Bo tarde. ( )
Good night.: Bo noite. ( )
Good night (to sleep): Bo noite/Bon' sonu. ( )
I don't understand.: N'ka ntindi. ( )
Where is the toilet?: Nunde ki kasa de banho? ( ?)

Problems edit

Numbers edit

un' - 1

dus - 2

tris - 3

kuatru- 4

cinku - 5

seis - 6

seti - 7

oitu - 8

novi - 9

des - 10

Time edit

Clock time edit

Duration edit

Days edit

today: aós
yesterday: aonti
tomorrow: amanha
this week: es semana
last week: semana passada
next week: próssima semana

Sunday: dumingu
Monday: segunda-fera
Tuesday: terça-fera
Wednesday: kuarta-fera
Thursday: kinta-fera
Friday: sesta-fera
Saturday: sabadu

Months edit

janeirufevreirumarsuabrilmaiojunhujulhuagustusitembruotubrunovembrudizembru

januaryfebruarymarchaprilmayjunejulyaugustseptemberoctobernovemberdecember

Writing time and date edit

Colors edit

Burmedju - red

Azul - blue

Pretu - black

Branku - white

Transportation edit

Bus and train edit

Directions edit

Taxi edit

Lodging edit

Money edit

Dinheru - Money

Ami n'ka tene dineru. - I don't have any money

Cen' fran" - 100 CFA

Duzentus - 200 CFA

Trizentus - 300 CFA

Kuatrusentus - 400 CFA

Kinhentus - 500 CFA

Seisentus - 600 CFA

Setecentus - 700 CFA

Oitucentus - 800 CFA

Novcentus - 900 CFA

Mil fran' - 1000 CFA

Dus mil - 2000 CFA

Pagan' - Pay me.

Patin' dinheru - Give me money.

N'misti troku - I want change.

Eating edit

Matabitchu - Breakfast

Djanta - Lunch

Sia - Supper

Bin' nó kume. - Come eat with us.

Pon' - Bread

Arus - Rice

Bianda - Meal with rice

Frutas - Fruit

Verduras - Vegetables

Kadju - Cashew

Batata - Potato

Mankara - Peanut

Adju - Garlic

Sabola - Onion

Bu na kussinha - You are cooking.

Bars edit

Shopping edit

Where is the market?Nunde ki fera?

How much does it cost?I kantu?

Do you have ( )?Bu tene ( )?

I want two kilos.N'misti dus kilus.

I only have 500 CFA.N'tene son Kinhentus fran'/ son kinhentus fran' k n'tene.

I want to go to the store.N misti bai taberna.

How much does it cost to go to ( )?I kantu k i kusta pa bai ( )?

Driving edit

Authority edit

Learning more edit

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